Loneliness Among Older Adults for Residential Care- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discusss about theLoneliness Among Older Adults for Residential Care. Answer: Introduction Residential care homes provide a smaller, more like home family ambience for the senior citizens. This type of care homes supply food services and support with daily living but does not have any medical executive in the premises (Falk et al., 2013). Loneliness can be described as a feeling that is negative in nature or sadness that is caused because of absence in communication, closeness or relationship with others. However, anyone at any age can be affected by loneliness but older individuals are especially endangered to feeling lonely. As people are growing older, they are probable to lose their loved ones and may have to live alone in their remaining days. Moreover, older people experience more health problems that restrict them from going out and meeting people. Thus, from these the feeling of loneliness and isolation are increased. Mainly the condition of social contact makes the difference in older adults who are lonely and isolated. Retirement, bereavement, loss of friends or companions, bad health conditions and financial difficulties can be major causes of loneliness in older adults. However, this research is being further conducted because the mental health of the older people residing in the residential care needs more attention because of their increasing loneliness and isolation (Valtorta Hanratty, 2012). Aims The aim of this research is to find out the reason behind loneliness among older adults who are staying in the residential cares. The loneliness among the individuals will be measured by doing an in depth study on the various reasons and their side effects on the older adults causing loneliness by conducting both primary and secondary researches. Primary question How loneliness does affect the old adults who are staying in residential cares? Secondary question What are the reasons/causes of loneliness in older adults? What are the side effects on the older adults due to loneliness? Literature review In 2012, Roos Malan in their research have investigated the experiences of older peoples loneliness in the surroundings of residential care. However, this research came up with the outcome that suggests that the real reason behind this loneliness and isolation in old age is mainly due to loss or absence of meaningful interaction and communication. A huge gap exists in the research that only the interaction and communication has been emphasized but apart from this, there are also other factors that need more attention. In another study by Rodriguez?Blazquez et al., in 2012 their main objective for the research was to find the main features that are affecting the health and safety variables among the old adults in the institutional and non-institutional environment. The findings of this study stated that age has an influence on the older adults who live in their homes to a huge extend than those who are residing in the residential care homes. Thus, another gap can also be identified f rom this study is their lack of focus on the mental conditions which can also play a vital factor in the health status of the older people. Bradshaw, Playford Riazi, 2012, in their study did a systematic qualitative review on the life of those who lives under residential care, to supply recommendations on how the quality of life of the people residing there can be uplifted. The result however suggests that people staying in residential homes usually lacks independence along with building proper relationship with others. In this however, four important subjects are identified which are acceptance and adaptation, connectedness with others, homelike surrounding and caring implications. Moreover, it further stated that how positive experiences in the residential care could arise and are necessary to uplift the quality of life for those residing in the residential cares. Lastly, Saito, Kai Takizawa in 2012 in their study analyzed the effect of social isolation prevention programs on the lonely, depressed and the comfort of the aged. This study compared 20 of the elderly people in the intervention group and 40 people in the control group where the result showed that a positive effect has been reflected in the intervention program. Moreover, the outcome further states that social isolation prevention programs are actually effective when they are used along with the prevailing resources of the community that is based on the set of needs of individuals and selected people who can share alike experiences. Significance/contribution of the research This study will help the future researchers to understand the importance of loneliness for those old adults who are residing in residential cares. This will further enlighten them with the reasons or causes of loneliness in older adults and the ill effects they have on them. Mainly it will try to fulfill the gaps that are observed from the other researches on this topic done earlier. Theoretical contribution The readers will be getting a clear knowledge of how the older adults are affected by loneliness while staying in the residential care. This study will transform the way people observe things and the way these problems are talked about. Moreover, it will promote conceptualization of loneliness in older adults and further draw on and contributes in the scholarly literatures, which inspects the mental health of elderly individuals. Practical outcomes Results of this study can help the in the prevention programs that are designed for preventing loneliness and isolation in the older adults. It can further help the wellbeing of the older adults. The psychologist and psychiatrists can pay attention on the more clearly described and pointed out reasons of this loneliness and their ill effects in the individuals. Research methodology Participants Total number of participants was 100 older adults out of whom 50 were in the experimental group and the rest in the control group. Methodology To analyze the quantitative data the numerical digits are changed into percentages so that then they can be displayed in the different charts, graphs and tables. However, distant from this, descriptive statistics has also being used to measure the mean, median and mode along with the standard deviation of the research findings (Bickel Lehmann, 2012). On the other hand, to analyze the content of the qualitative data, transcripts of the elderly adults speech has been developed. Moreover, a thematic analysis has also being done so that the interviews can be properly analyzed. Design framework The basic research designs that are used by researchers are analytical or descriptive, explanatory and exploratory research designs. The descriptive one makes the researcher to take a view of the different approaches in a detailed as well as descriptive manner. The next one, which is the exploratory, design helping the researcher to regulate the primary stages of the study that is based on the hypothesis made by the researcher. Lastly, the explanatory design helps to grow the bond between two variables existing in the research study (Creswell, 2013). Data collection methods The primary data are that information that is collected by conducting the different questionnaires and interviews. The information is very authentic and supplies a better attitude towards this study. However, the secondary data are that information that is available beforehand in any form. This will involve those data that are already there from the previous surveys or the researches done under this topic. Both the methods have been used while collecting the data (Best Kahn, 2016). Sampling method Probability and non-probability sampling techniques have been used so that sampling method is done (Levy Lemeshow, 2013). Random sampling technique is being used so that a better understanding on this topic is gained. However, 50 participates were selected from the population who were residing in the residential cares and are older adults to be in the experimental group and another 50 participants were there comprising the control group. Ethical considerations The research has been carried under the guidance of strict ethics and thus, there were no such actions that can damage the legal proceedings for conducting a research. However, none of the participants were forced to participate in the research and thus, they were free to call off their participation at any point as far as their convenience is concerned. Moreover, to conduct this research all the datas are only for the sole purpose of academic activities (Ritchie et al., 2013). Scope and problems This research will mainly focus on the loneliness that the older adults who are residing in the residential care go through. Thus, the scope of this research is to gain more knowledge regarding the wellbeing of the older adults. The reasons behind their loneliness and its ill effects are also studies in details so that it can give a clear understanding to the readers. This may help in changing the stereotypical ways in which people think and talk about these topics. Lastly, this will also spread the awareness of loneliness in a positive manner among those who are not aware of this kind of problems in the older adults. However, there are certain limitations in spite of the different approaches made. The research has been done only on 50 participants, thus, if the research is conducted among more older adults then their perspectives towards loneliness would have been achieved in a better way. There are high chances that some of the participants can give biased answers to the questioner s or in the process of direct face-to-face interview. Lastly, another problem is shortage of time. Therefore, more time given to this research would have studied the whole topic in a better way (Shipman, 2014). References Best, J. W., Kahn, J. V. (2016). Research in education. Pearson Education India. Bickel, P. J., Lehmann, E. L. (2012). Descriptive statistics for nonparametric models i. introduction. In Selected Works of EL Lehmann (pp. 465-471). Springer US. Bradshaw, S. A., Playford, E. D., Riazi, A. (2012). Living well in care homes: a systematic review of qualitative studies.Age and ageing,41(4), 429-440. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Falk, H., Wijk, H., Persson, L. O., Falk, K. (2013). A sense of home in residential care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 27(4), 999-1009. Levy, P. S., Lemeshow, S. (2013). Sampling of populations: methods and applications. John Wiley Sons. Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Nicholls, C. M., Ormston, R. (Eds.). (2013). Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers. Sage. Rodriguez?Blazquez, C., Forjaz, M. J., Prieto?Flores, M. E., Rojo?Perez, F., Fernandez?Mayoralas, G., Martinez?Martin, P. (2012). Health status and well?being of older adults living in the community and in residential care settings: Are differences influenced by age?.Aging mental health,16(7), 884-891. Roos, V., Malan, L. (2012). The role of context and the interpersonal experience of loneliness among older people in a residential care facility.Global health action,5(1), 18861. Saito, T., Kai, I., Takizawa, A. (2012). Effects of a program to prevent social isolation on loneliness, depression, and subjective well-being of older adults: a randomized trial among older migrants in Japan. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 55(3), 539-547. Shipman, M. D. (2014). The limitations of social research. Routledge. Valtorta, N., Hanratty, B. (2012). Loneliness, isolation and the health of older adults: do we need a new research agenda?. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 105(12), 518-522.